Clamp means for holding receptacle dispenser cartons

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for a nested stack of receptacles, such as drinking cups, comprises a pair of adjustable coacting clamp members for holding a carton of the nested stack at diagonally opposite corners of the carton. Means are provided for mounting the clamp members on a wall bracket. The clamp members each comprise angular sections of a vertical plate and tapered embossments on inner surfaces of the sections to act as detents for removing the receptacles one by one. Horizontal abutments are also carried by the plates above their lower edges for engaging the bottom of the carton, whereby the stack drops below the carton onto the detents and the lower portion of the stack becomes visible to indicate when refilling is necessary.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Leonard F. Hughes Baltimore, Md.

[211 App]. No. 863,444

[22] Filed Oct. 3, 1969 [4S] Patented Aug. 31, 1971 [73] Assignee Maryland Cup Corporation Owings Mills, Md.

[54] CLAMPMEANS FOR HOLDING RECEPTACLE 1,889,875 12/1932 Parker Primary Examiner-Stanley l-l. Tollberg Attorney-Birch & Birch- ABSTRACT: A dispenser for a nested stack of receptacles, such as drinking cups, comprises a pair of adjustable coacting clamp members for holding a carton of the nested stack at diagonally opposite corners of the carton. Means are provided for mounting the clamp members on a wall bracket. The clamp members each comprise angular sections of a vertical plate and tapered embossments on inner surfaces of the sections to act as detents forremoving the receptacles one by one. Horizontal abutments are also carried by the plates above their lower edges for engaging the bottom of the carton, whereby the stack drops below the carton onto the detents and the lower portion of the stack' becomes visible to indicate when refilling is necessary dispensers which are adjustable to different sizes of recepta-' cles.

Another object is the provision of a receptacle dispenser in combination with means for mounting it in a position to be used.

which is adapted to support in a vertical position nested receptacles to be dispensed and a carton containing such receptacles. 1

A feature of the invention is the provision of means for supporting the nested receptacles in a carton in which they are contained which permits visual observation of these receptacles as the carton becomes nearly exhausted andrequires impending replacement.

These and still further objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear more fully from the following description considered together with the accompanying draw ing which illustrates an embodiment of the invention.

in the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment with a sleeve carton of receptacles in place. a v

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the embodiment apart from the carton of receptacles on a larger scale.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

H6. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designatelike parts, the embodiment illustrated comprises a pair of oppositely facing verticalclamp members 11 and 12, having angularly disposed sides l3, l4 and l5, 16,

g respectively. The rear sides 13 and 15 have rearwardly extending portions 17 and 18, respectively.

and inwardly turned flanges l9 and 20, respectively. I

The flanges l9 and 20 overlap one of the flanges, say, flange 20 is provided with horizontal slots 21 which register will apertures 22 in the other flange l9 and apertures 23 in a mounting plate 24. Bolts 25 are disposed in the slots and also through the apertures 22 and 23. Nuts 26 on the bolts permit easily mounting and adjusting the spacing of the clamp members 11 and 12 relative to each other.

The mountingplate 24'has opposite rearwardly divergent sidewalls 27 and 28 which are slid'ably engageable with a wall bracket 29 having slots 30 and 31 on either side to engage the sidewalls 27 and 28. The slots 30 and 31 are formed between a at the. bottom for contacting the sidewalls 27 and 28 of' the mounting plate 24 and limit its placement with respect thereto.

A further object isthe provision of a receptacle dispenser Apertures 35 in the backplate 32 are for securing it ma wall 36 by nails or screws 37. 1 Y

The upper edges of sides l3, l4 and l5, 16, respectively, have outwardly flared marginal portions 38, 39 and 40, 41 to facilitate the placement of a sleeve carton 42 between the clamp members.

At the inside comers between the sides l3, l4 and l5, 16, there are disposed horizontal shelves 43 and 44, respectively, to support the lower edge of the sleeve carton 42 exclusively of the receptacles therein.

Each of thesides l3, 14, 15 and 16 is provided with median tapered embossments 45 adjacent the bottom edge. These emb ossments slope inwardly and upwardly thereby providing detents for beaded edges 46 of receptacle cups 47, for example, which drop below the open bottom of the sleeve carton 42. The device may also be used by removing entirely the carton sleeve42 and leaving the entire stack of cups 47 exposed.

horizontal shelves carried by the members at diagonally op- 30 i6. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of FlG.

posite corners for engaging the lowermost diagonal comers of the dispenser carton independently of the nested receptacles ofthestack. i

' 2.-A holder for dispenser cartons containing a stack of nested receptacles to select dispensing position as defined by v claim 1 in which the clamp members comprise each a vertical plate bent to form angularly disposedvertical sections to engage four sides of said upright carton and to engage only diagonal corners of the dispenser c'arton'at the apex of connected sides of the carton.

3. A holder for dispenser cartons containing a stack of nested receptacles to select dispensing position as defined by claim 2 in which the angularly disposed sections of the vertical plate have outwardly flared upper marginal edges to guide dispenser cartons into dispensing position.

4. A dispenser for a stack of nested cups in a carton of square cross section comprising a pair of clamp members having foursurfaces to engage the carton sides defining diagonally opposite comers and a lower major portion of four sides of the carton, said members comprising a pair of plates, each of the plates being formed to provide an internal apex, means for holding said members in adjusted coacting positions relatiye to each other, means for mounting the members in a vertical position with the respective apex of each facing each other, horizontal abutment's'carried at the interior apex of each pair of plates for engaging the edges of the bottom open end of each opposite diagonal corner of the carton to the exclusion of the cups in the carton, and detents carried by the interior side of each of the members for frictionally engaging the lowermost cups of the stack. 

1. A holder for dispenser cartons containing a stack of nested receptacles to select dispensing position comprising a pair of coacting clamp members, said members embracing a major portion of the four sides of an upright carton at the lower end thereof, means for holding said members in adjusted, coacting positions relative to each other, means for mounting the members in a vertical position on a surface, and horizontal shelves carried by the members at diagonally opposite corners for engaging the lowermost diagonal corners of the dispenser carton independently of the nested receptacles of the stack.
 2. A holder for dispenser cartons containing a stack of nested receptacles to select dispensing position as defined by claim 1 in which the clamp members comprise each a vertical plate bent to form angularly disposed vertical sections to engage four sides of said upright carton and to engage only diagonal corners of the dispenser carton at the apex of connected sides of the carton.
 3. A holder for dispenser cartons containing a stack of nested receptacles to select dispensing position as defined by claim 2 in which the angularly disposed sections of the vertical plate have outwardly flared upper marginal edges to guide dispenser cartons into dispensing position.
 4. A dispenser for a stack of nested cups in a carton of square cross section comprising a pair of clamp members having four surfaces to engage the carton sides defining diagonally opposite corners and a lower major portion of four sides of the carton, said members comprising a pair of plates, each of the plates being formed to provide an internal apex, means for holding said members in adjusted coacting positions relative to each other, means for mounting the members in a vertical position with the respective apex of each facing each other, horizontal abutments carried at the interior apex of each pair of plates for engaging the edges of the bottom open end of each opposite diagonal corner of the carton to the exclusion of the cups in the carton, and detents carried by the interior side of each of the members for frictionally engaging the lowermost cups of the stack. 